Duped: Cory Booker appears in alleged schemer's reality TV pitch

A rising star in the Democratic Party is one of the many who trusted a former basketball great on trial for masterminding a $2-million real estate scam and Ponzi scheme.

And like the others, Newark Mayor Cory Booker was fooled into believing Tate George to be someone he was not.

“This is the best of the Bricks right here,” the Senate candidate says of Tate in a YouTube video, referencing Newark’s nickname. “One of our native sons.”The video was produced as a reality TV pitch for the former NBA player turned real estate developer in August 2009 — two years before he was arrested, but in the midst of his alleged misappropriation of funds that burned friends and investors. Booker, who is running for the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s seat in a special election next month, is seen at the end of the clip hugging George.

On Friday after reviewing the video, a spokeswoman for Booker’s Senate campaign said George “may have misled a lot of people.”

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“That Mayor Booker commented positively about a seemingly successful Newark native four years ago, is hardly news,” Silvia Alvarez said in an email. “Any attempt to draw a negative connection between him and Mayor Booker is flatly absurd.”

An FBI agent testified in federal court this week that the former UConn star — known for the last-second shot he took in 1990 for the Huskies to win and advance in the NCAA basketball tourney — spent $2,905 from his alleged Ponzi scheme to pony up the money for the failed dreams of becoming the next Bret Michaels.

Prepared by FBI Special Agent Abigail Weidner, the financial report showed the money came from Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons, who had invested $250,000 with George for a housing venture in East Orange.

The video bill was paid on Aug. 26, 2009. By then, said the Weidner report, all but $11.14 of Villanueva’s money had been spent by George on his own personal needs.

In a role he will not win an Academy Award for, Forest Whitaker makes a cameo in the sizzle reel — industry lingo for a show pitch — trying to jump-start George’s acting career.

The two briefly shake hands during a movie premiere at Newark Symphony Hall, and George puts his hand on Whitaker’s shoulder, as the acclaimed actor asks him, “What’s going on?”

Not receiving the red-carpet treatment in the video skit is well-traveled former NBA player Chucky Atkins, who allegedly brought a nasty (expletive) over to George’s house.

“If you ever bring ... to my house again, I’m going to (expletive) you up,” George says.

Two people missing from the footage are former 12-year NBA pro Brevin Knight, who now is the television voice of the Memphis Grizzlies, and the winner of the fourth season of The Apprentice, Randal Pinkett.

Both, however, did not miss the chance to testify against George in court.

George is being accused of taking $300,000 from Knight and financing the money to pay earlier investors.

In angry testimony this week, Rhodes Scholar Pinkett told of getting ripped off for $100,000 by the 44-year-old who played professionally Milwaukee Bucks and New Jersey Nets.

Within hours, prosecutor’s said some of Pinkett’s cash was sent in check form to George’s daughter and girlfriend.

Prosecutors allege the Ponzi scheme conducted between 2006 and 2011 centered around George’s projects in Essex County and Connecticut that never got off the ground, screwing investors who were guaranteed profits of up to 25 percent in as little as eight months.

New York City-based Video Dimensions Inc. produced the unedited video that now lives forever online.

“We just shot for them for a couple days and handed off the footage,” production coordinator Kelly O’Neill said. “I have no idea what happened with it afterwards.”

About the Authors

Originally from Webster, N.Y., David has been a reporter in N.J. for the past three years (first in Phillipsburg and now in Trenton).He is a Temple alum who interned at the Philadelphia Daily News. Reach the author at dfoster@trentonian.com
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